Wednesday

Oct 10, 2018 at 7:36 PMOct 12, 2018 at 9:28 AM

The presidents of three local League of Women Voters chapters announced in an email sent to the campaigns of state Sen. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham, and Democrat Becca Rausch of Needham that they have concluded that Ross "has refused the offer" to participate in a face-to-face candidates forum.

State Sen. Richard Ross is apparently not interested in debating his Democratic challenger before the Nov. 6 general election.

Ross, a Republican from Wrentham, "has refused the offer" to participate in a face-to-face candidates forum with Democrat challenger Becca Rausch of Needham, according to an email from the presidents of three local League of Women Voters chapters sent to the campaigns.

Ross did not respond to two emails and five phone calls requesting his attendance at a candidates forum to be cablecast on the Wayland public access station, according to the Monday email from LWV presidents in Wayland, Wellesley and Needham. A four-term incumbent, Ross has represented the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District since winning a special election in May 2010.

“When candidates refuse to participate in opportunities to help their future constituents learn more about them, this is a loss for voters,” the email read, in part.

Rausch had sharp words for Ross.

“(Sen. Ross’s) intentional indifference to the League of Women Voters not to participate in their invitation is deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” Rausch told the Daily News. “It displays disregard for the voters in the district and the democratic process.”

In its email to the campaigns, the League said it could still make arrangements for the forum if it heard from Ross by 5 p.m. Wednesday. Needham LWV President Karen Price and Wellesley LWV President Anne Rippy Turtle said they did not receive a response from Ross, or his office, by the deadline. Wayland LWV President Mary Antes informed the Daily News after the print deadline for this story that she had not heard from Ross or his office.

The Daily News called Ross and his communications director, Rachel Purewal, for comment, but those calls were not returned by the print deadline for this story.

The LWV made its initial request to Rausch and Ross in an email sent Sept. 15, seeking a response by the end of the day Sept. 18. The Rausch campaign accepted the invitation on Sept. 17.

The LWV sent a second email to Ross on Sept. 19. Five phone calls were later placed, according to the LWV, with messages left either with a Ross staff member or on voicemail.

The 90-minute forum was planned for sometime between Oct. 10 and Oct. 19, and take place at WayCam, the Wayland public access station.

Rausch defeated challengers Jackie Katz and Kris Aleksov with 53 percent of the vote in September’s Democratic Primary. Ross was unopposed on the Republican side.

The Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district covers all or part of Attleboro, Franklin, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Sherborn, Wayland, Wellesley and Wrentham.

Rausch took another shot at Ross when she said voters in his district are concerned about issues like affordable health care and an efficient transportation system, and that he’s denying them the chance to hear his positions by not attending a forum.

Ross also sponsored anti-choice legislation, according to Rausch, that would restrict safe and legal access to an abortion.

According to a State House News Service story in January, Ross was one of two Republicans on the Senate Committee for Ways and Means that abstained from voting on a bill that would wipe out state abortion and contraception statutes that date back to 1845. Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts supported the bill, but acknowledged it would have no practical effect as the old statutes were no longer enforced. The state Attorney General's Office confirmed the statutes are not enforced, and many were deemed unconstitutional.

Rausch left the door open.

“If (Ross) says ‘I’m ready now,' great,” Rausch said.

The League of Women Voters is a national organization formed in 1920 to help women take a larger role in public affairs, just after the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave them the right to vote. Originally open only to women, men were admitted in 1973. It presents itself as nonpartisan in that it neither supports nor opposes individual candidates or political parties.

Follow Henry Schwan on Twitter @henrymetrowest. He can be reached at hschwan@wickedlocal.com or 508-626-3964.

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